New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-19
A TRIP TO THE OIL REGION
HOW THE LAND OF "GUsHERs' LOOKS.



IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF rI TRrBUyEl
BRADFORD. Penn, Sept 15.-For a county that is
alleged to be under the iron heel Of monopoly" the
oil regions OF Western Pennsylvania present rather
at ractive prospect. Wholesouled and generous In
large degree, the people take good Of the ten
derfoot within their gates, and Notwithstanding tho
low prices that have ruled for long they appear
have some means left to enable them to, do OF
course there is great contrast between the country
to-day and ts condition when petroleum was al the
height Of its speculative prosperity but the business
OF Oil producing Is settling down to more substantial
pas, and 1t Is reasonable to suppose that In the end
the region will be better of by tho absence of the
gambling spirit that in early years riot among the
| miners for petroleum great benefit to the REGION
too, l. bound TO through the diversifcation Of
| industries which Is In progress. And q visitor
feels encouraged for the future when he falls to find
the bare-footed producers that unable to get to
the harrisburg Leg laure last spring when the famous
Bnlingsley bill under discussion
Naturally, an inquIrer's steps drawn first toward
the districts that have been the most prominent in
the eyes of the trade In the last year These are
Washington pools southwest OF Plttsburg and few
miles out of the old town Of Washington, where the
college that graduated Mt. Blaine is big object OF
local PRIDE But he doesn't want to neglect a visit
to the Pittsburg Petroleum Exchange In Fourth ave.
street that ought to be wider off the handsome
DuHding properly. II che is lucky enough to meet
good treatment. And II he talks with him he will
aud him taking a cheerful view OF the future
price Of crude oil ttaG other persons In the oil
business do But there Is doubt that the scnti-
ment In Pittsburg Is "bulllsh' In the main, and
this Is the more surprising at first glance when 1t Is
recalled that not far of from tho city are the wells
that have furnished the bears" ammunition for months
past and which may disturb the sumbers Of nervous
bulls" for some time to Perhaps this surprise
would be esscncd he listened the other side of the
question: and that can be touched upon later.
INSPECTING THE WASHINGTON DISTRICT
But let US take a morning train-say o'clock
from Ptisburg to the Washington district. left
tho eXSmoky city by the Pittsburg, Cincinnati and
ST. Louis Railroad in company with Plat B. Crosby
captain Michael Murphy and Theodore NJ. Barnsdall.
Tho run through the CHARTERS Valley a pretty one
We follow the creek pretty closely but 1t winds around
In and out among the trees In sinuous course,
and then showing traces Of oil mingled with the
oil that has trickled out through the rvets that
bind the Iron sections of the pipe line tanks together
OF that has come from some well We stop frequently
at stations and it takes hours to get to
our destination. AS the plumes OF burning
natural gas coming out Of the small pipes that here
and there prornde from tho ground, we can find
limo to swear at the railroads which still use the
dirt -begctting soft coal OF this region.
Pittsburg has cast the black stun Oat Of It's homes
and Its factories and good deal OF clear sky IS the
clouds of the locomotives OF the Western railroads
still furnish pollution for the heavens above
and dirt and cinders poured into the windows
or through the ventatOTs. II It not for these
railroads Pttsburger m ght get over the Idea that
black rims around the edges OF shirt cuffs dirt
For although coal carts have disappeared practically
from The city Of the conspiracy Of rivers the old super
sutton still fingers that a boiled shirt Is rs good a
week after 1t Is put II IA half hour after Il has
lett your bureau But 1t Is only fair to soy that this
religion Is largely, II not entirely confined people
who have to do travelling the black roads.
Washing on County is richly endowed by nature. II
Is tho largest sheep raising county In the state Of
pennsylvania II has rich agricultural lands and yet
withal nature has somehow churned within Its bowels
q liberal supply OF crude petroleum that needs but a
few more shades Of Improvement almost to become
refined oil.
CAPITA Murphy has talked a little bit on the train
about the oil outlook lie says, however, that all
speculative spirit Is dead apparently aud he isn't pay
ing any attention to the certificate market Every
one knows Of the captain His famous "6lo" well
In Cherry Grove played hob" with speculation In his
active days mike" some people still call him,
Is not active as a driller. He lives comfortably
at country seat distance out from Philadelphia
and pays good deal OF attention to booded horses.
The specultve spirit Is dead the oil country" said
Mr. Murphy 81 don't now pay any regard to the
speculation. But remember the time when half
dozen boys in Warren could put the market up 10 OF
Is cents In the face Of all the oil that the Standard
could sell to them. They bought right along, and
instead OF selling out the first bulge Of or ten
cents they would increase their holdings on the adj
vance
HOW THE "MYsTERIFs" WIRE CARRIED OUT.
Captain Murphy great mystery worker In
his day. That when every producer OF any large
cabre did big speculative business In addition to
his Leg innate work of digging OIL 1t was day
when the socaed prosperity OF the oil regions was
at Its height Gambling was UNIVERSAL and 1t per
haps would be well for tho moment to draw the veil
the stories with which the oil country is epete
of the devices between we'll owners and scouts, the
one to conceal tho production Of well, the other TO
get the acs that light sway prices the exchanges
Tho days OF mysteries" have passed with the prog
made In geological knowledge of the petroleum
regions. tho wonderful Improvement in the methods |
OF drilling and the general extension Of facilities for
reaching the producing regions. With sixty or
seventy-cent oil who would stand drilling well
las has been done IN the pasO with gar In his mouth
and aboier within hundred so OF yards Of the hole
In order deceive the scorts whose field glasses
loveed at tho derrick from nelghboring height,
into the belief that the well a small ono For
a spark from tho cigar coal from the boiler fire
might ignite the gas liable to rush up from tho we'll
and start fire that might consume several lives
well the wooden derrick which the monument |
of supply of oil mystery" now a-days |
Is only worked to enable the drlers who think they
have good well to take up the land they want be-
fore outsiders rush In to do
When after ride Of two hours and half, ,he
railroad station Is reached at Washington, carriage
must be secured for visit to the wells that
attracting attention. The town ranibles billy
gmund ii looks but little more progressive than I'm
tho early days of tho Republic, and the watercart
trundling through the street back Of donkey makes
an old Bradford producer weary" II IL the Phil
isne, to speak, who has gone into the Washington
field and paid the tanners big royalties or big out
right prices for the privilege right Of digging out |
oil. Up here In Bradford where civilization In its
light and gaslight forms followed the wonderful
developments OF the weakening backbone Of tho |
oil supply the old fashions to which tho Washington
citizens cling, condemned most alphabetically. |
And 81 andard and anti STANDARD people al ON |
this point. But good buttermik can DO obtained in
Washington. 1t Is no license town. and possibly the
prejudice felt against It by Bradforians arises
from their naUity to secure the excellent grade OF
the i'm product OF the which Is accessi